Dear Editor,
I am saddened to read in KN’s front page Sunday editorial (Jul 13) that the government is intimidating and harassing the paper. The harassment of KN is not the first of a media outlet and probably won’t be the last.
Stabroek News and CNS TV had been earlier victims of government harassment. Unfortunately, KN did not speak out vociferously against government’s anti-media policy. Instead the paper gave the impression that it was doing the government’s bidding. In fact, the publisher, Mr Glen Lall and the President seemed to enjoy a very cozy relationship enjoying each other’s company. One got the impression that KN was doing whatever the government requested. Now the government ‘has given stick’ to KN for no justifiable reason. That was coming.
KN has only now spoken out strongly against media harassment when it has been going on for such a lengthy period, especially with the denial of advertisements to SN for over a year.
Victimization against KN may be next step as happened to SN and Sharma TV. It is, therefore, imperative that KN teams up with other victimized media to resist government’s temptation to harass respected media.
I am so proud to read that KN is standing up against the government. KN has made it resolutely clear that it intends to continue to stand up against whatever actions the government plans against it. But KN’s efforts would be strengthened if it joins with CN Sharma and SN as well as other critics of the government to resist victimization.
Yours faithfully,
Derek Sampson
